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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 212 052 5 



PS 635 
.Z9 M55 
Copy 1 



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'-Jt ' / 


y THE SLUMS 
OF 
NEW YORK 


BY 


HENRY MILCHSTEIN 



/ 



STAGED AND EFFECTS BY 
ROTHMAN and PLOTNICK 

NEW YORK, N. Y. / 



\ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 

1913, by Henry Milchstein, in the office of the 

Librarian of Congress, at Washington, DC. 



©C1.D 32247^ 



h 



CHARACTERS 

Max Simone : 

A rich youth visiting Chinalowu 

Marlow Simone : 
His sister. 

Jack : 

Marlow's sweetheart. 

Tom Dixon : 

A Policeman. 

Jim White : 

Owner of resort. 

Kid: 

An underworld character. 

Sarah : 

His wife. 

Howard: 

An underworld character. 

Alargarete : 

His wife. 

Hetty : 

An underw'orld character, ,sup])o-e I sw «.^t 
heart of Max Simone. 

Hoc - Sing: 

A Chinaman - waiter. 



Frinted by Itos8waag*8 
STUTVESANT PRESS 

57 2nd Ave.f New York 



Scene takes place in Jim Whites Cafe 
in Chinatown at 10 P. M. Hotel is located or. 
the left, occupying ^ of (the stage, and' to the right 
a street is shown leading to entrance of hotel. Scene 
deco(rated to fit purpose. 

When curtain rises, Jim White is be- 
hind the bar washing glasses. Kid, Jack and 
Margaret are playing cards at a table placed at the 
extreme left of the hotel, while, Hoo-Sing is adjust- 
ing the remaining tables in the room. 

Tom Dixon is walking n]> and down the 
.street. 

iMiter Dixon. ( walks to the bar.) (unnoticed.) 

Dixon : 

HelU) Jim. 

Jim : (taking the policeman's hand.) 
Why ! how do you do. 

Dixon : 

Say, Jim, I, wish to inform you, that my peo- 
ple have been on the lookout, and this time they are 
in earnest. In the last few days many crimes were 
committed and the captain is under the impression 



that the murderers and gangsters ,who participated 
in these crimes come in to your place. Police are 
due here this evening or tomorrow night; so I ad- 
vise you to close at one. 

Jim: 

All iright, Tom, thanks for the tip. 

Dixon :( walks to the door, and meets Sarah and 
Hetty at the entrance.) 
.Say girls, you'd better keep off the corner to- 
night. 

Sarah : 

Why? 

Hetty : 

Oh Tom, we aren't doing anything. 

Dixon : 

Well, if you don't care to take my hint, do 
as you please. (Exit Dixon.) 
• (WhMe this is going on at the entrance, Hoo-Sing 
is in the meantime serving the people at the table 
with drinks.) 

(Enter Sarah and' Hetty. They seat themselves at 
an opposite table. (Hoo-Sing approaches them.) 

jHoo, - Sing: 

Vat doo you vishy? 



?. I:;:if ' W^hat have you got ? 

Hoo-Sing (Placing the bill of fare jOn the tabic, 
sings out.) 

( i::/! ;Chop-Suey ■ ^! 

Flied eggs in goMmust ' 

— 6 — 



Chicken flonsey 
Yokoman 

Cockee-Tail . 

All kinds finey-riney drinks. 
Demeetassee. 
Sarah : (to Hoo - Sing) 

Well give us two beers. 

Hoo - Sing : 

Two beers 'bosey. 

Margarete: (orders (loudly) 
Three cock-tails. 

(After saying this, she looks to the rear, 
where Hetty and Sarah aire seated.) 
Margarete: (Speaking to both, of them.) 

Isn't Marlow here yet? 

Sarah : 

I guess she's got a sucker on for to - night. 

(Kid jumps to his feet, with the cards in hia 
hand.) 
Kid- 

What then like you? 

Jack: (Rises and interrupts Kid.) 

Sit down and keep cool, I've got a full hoU|Se. 

(In the meantime. — Hoo-Sing serves Sarah 
and Hetty with the said order.) (The game con- 
tinues.) (Hoo-Sing serves the remaining three 
drinks to the game table.) (Hoo-Sing then collects 
the emptied glasses of Sarah and Hetty.) <-■: r]c>\\ 
Enter Dixon. ■.-<:■ 

Kid : (throws up his cards and rises to 'his feet.) 
What the ! ! — hello Tom. 

— 7 — 



Tom Dixon : 

How do. I walks to bar.) (converses quiet- 
ly with Jim.) 

KidI: (wal'ks over to Saral\and Hetty and seats him- 
self' at their table.) (Jack and Margarete look on.) 
(Hoo-Sing collects j^iasses from game table.) (Ki() 
speaking to Sarah.) 

Did you make anything? 

Sarah : 

_ •. .., , Yes, Kid. (taking a few dollar bills from her 

stocking, gives them to him.) 

Kid: 

Is- that all? (banging his hand on the table.) 
(The policeman looks 'round.) (Sarah bur- 
ies her head in her a^mis.) 

Hetty : 

Don't cry Sarah, you' weren't made to cry. 

(At this stage Tom Dixon leaves and walks 
np and down the street.) (Hoo-Sing is now clean- 
ing the game table.) (Kid, pitying Sarah, walks 
'round the table, picks her head up and kisses her.) 
(Jim is reading a news-paper.) (Hoo-Sing. seeing 
them kiss, laughs out loud.) 
oo - Smg: V i -^ -' -- •■ 

Hey, bosey look! ! 

•"■iji ' =(Jim looks up.) (Kid now walks out of the 
room.) (Hetty stares madly after him.) i; 

jaLcfe:"twlio has been silent alii this time.) 

Isn't Marlow- here yet? • 

Sarah : 

No Jack. 



8 



(Hoo - Sing- now seats himself at the third 
table, which is placed in the rear of the room. 

Jack: (rises from his chair, taking his hat.) 

Well, I guess I'll go and see if I can find her. 
(As soon as Jack leaves the table, Marlow en- 
ters.) (Magarete at this moment rises and seats her- 
self at the opposite table, where Hetty and Sarah 
are seated.) 

Hoo - Sing : 
Hee she is. 

(Sarah springs from her chair and meetsu 
Marlow.) Jack looks on.) 

Sarah : 

Where have you been all this time? 

Marlow : (Sadly answers.) 
Sarah, don't ask me. 

Jack : (Walks over and grasps Marlow by the arm, 
saying.) 

Don't ask me? 

(Sarah in the meantime seats herself with 
Hetty and Margarete.) 

Marlow : 

Oh! Jack. 

(Hoo - Sing comes forward.) 
Jack : 

Well, I'll ask you; where were you all this 
time? 

(Marlow lowers her head at this moment.) 
Jack : ' 

Have you got anything? 

(Marlow is still silent.) (Jack grows mad and 

— 9 — 



lifts his hand to strike her.) (Hetty, Sarah atul 
Magarete rise to their feet and with Marlow to- 
gether cry.) 
The Four: 

Jack ! 

(Hoo - Sing runs tu the door and shouts.) 

Hoo - Sing: 

Police! Pdlice! 

Dixon has just left the street and does not 
appear.) 

(at the second cry of Police, Marlow falls to 
Jacks feet.) 

Marlow : 

M)' darling Jack, I can't work anymore, I am 
sick. 

Jack : 

Sick? why you'ire as strong as when you first 
started. 

(In the meantime Jim runs to the door and 
pulls Hoo-Sing inside and sruts the door after 
him). (The Policeman at this stage comes running- 
down the street, bewildered, peeps through the key- 
hole of the door, and slowly walks away again). 
(All seat themselves and Jack helps Marlow to her 
feet). (Kid comes running in, and showing Jack a 
roll of bills calls liim to the game - table). 

Kid : 

Come Jack let's have a game. 

Jack: 

Game? — how can I play with you when my 
lazy piece of humanity, failed to bring me money. 

— 10 — 



(In the meantime Marlow goes to the bar 
and orders a whiskey. ) (The rest talk quietly.) 
Kid: 

Say, Jack, have a heart, forgive her this time, 
I forgave mine just before. Rememlber Jack, that 
tbey love us. and fdr this reason alone, we 
aught to be contented with what ever tbey give us. 

Jack : 1 

Kid your right, I regret what I did, you 
know she's a dairling girl, and every time I ihurt her 
my heart aches. Oh, Kid I am tired of this life. 

(Marlow is in the mean time drinking and 
talking to Jim at the bar). (Kid goes over to Hoo- 
Sing who is seated on the floor next to the bar, 
kicks him and walks back to the game table). 

(Sarah seats herself next to Kid). (Hoo- 
Sing cries out loud : 

Aye Aye Jim. (He murmiers Chinese to him- 
self.) 

Jim : 

What has happened now? 

(In the meantime Jack goes to the bar and 
orders a beer). (Jim: serves him and Marlow be- 
gins to converse with Jack.) (Hoo-Sing is rub- 
bing his foot.) (At this interval Max Simone en- 
ters and seats himself at the rear ta'ble.) Hoo-Sing 
jumpes to his feet and runs limpinglly across the 
room to Max). 

Hoo - Sing : 

Vot is gentlaman? 

— 11 — 



Max Simone : 

Chop Suey. 

(Hoo - Sing runs back to the bar, while Kid 
orders two wines). (The girls order two egg sand- 
wiches), (Hoo Sing and Jim are busy attending 
the orders). 
Hetty: (Speaks to Kid.) 

Hey, Kid, I saw your mother last week. 

Kid: 

Oh! did you? 

(Hetty nods her head in the affirmative.) 

Kid: 

Did yon speak to her? 

Hetty : 

No, but she recognized me. 

Kid: 

Did she look old? 

Hetty: 

Did she, why she resembled a woman of a- 
bout ninety years. 

Kid: 

Poor mother. 

(Hoo - Sing at this stage cornes; forth with 
the order on a large trey, during which he sings:—:. 

Oh, me a Chinaman 

Me a happy man ., ., , 

Me go a to Japan 

And become a married man 

Oh, Oh, after the second Oh is said/ 

Jack intentionally collides with Hoo - Sing, the tray 

— 12 — 



falls to the floor and Hoc - Sing cries.) 

Hoo - Sing: 

Bossy look. 

(At this stage they all arise to their feet, 
while Jim comes out from behind the bar, grabs 
Hoo - Sing by the cue and pulls him on the floor.) , 

(Hoo-Sing cries for mercy and they all laugh loivd.)' ■ 

Jim: (To chinaman.) 

You shoirt - legged rascal. Til bounce you th^; i 
next time this happens. 

Jack: / 

Oh, Jim let the poor sucker alone. He justv 
wanted to know whether you would scold him for 
such an act. 

Jim.: (To chinaman.) 

I'll let you go this time but remember, let it 
never happen again. 

(Hoo - Sing rises to his feet, takes a large 
basket from Jim and quickly picks the broken glasiat 
from the floor, when finished, sweeps the re- 
maining pieces to the bar.) ' '■' 

Hetty: (notices Max, who is seated in the rear of! 
the room.) 

''''■■ Cle«f h€rFi^ 'my 'Max (approaches himi) 

Kidr'-- ■■'■■^" ; ^ ■ ■ "'^"'''''' 

Magarete, won't you dance for us? .; ) 
Margarete: Tj-a n oM 

Why certainly, anything to eriterta^ii' Vou. 

]im^, ,(Toaii.)v;..'::-: ':\.: v; ' ''■"' v. [y] 

^j, ,;'j 5 ^That's :wh,a,t:ili like to. hear., ...;,.,.... ., ., ^t .,. 
— 13 — 



(To Cliinanian) J ley. Sing. 
Hoo - Sing : 

A^e, aye, 

Jim: 

Make room. 

Hoo - Sing : 

Allright bosey, (he makes room.) 

(Max andi Hetty come to tiic ituiiL ami seat 

themselves at the second table.) 

(Magarete dances the pashey dance while 
they all look on.) (Hoo - Sing sits down on the floor 
«ind attemps to^ look under Magarete's dress every- 
time she passes him. This goes <>n fcir at least five 
miniites. At the end of the dance, Howard comes 
running in and seats himself at the rear table. Mag- 
arete, seeing him, runs towards him, while 
Dixen comes running down the sWeet and en- 
ters the resort. 

(Hoo - Sing is in the meantime imitating 
Magarete's dance, but as soon as he notices Dixon, 
he guickly runs around the room and hides himself 
under the game - table. 

Dixon : (To Jim.) 

Tm comi)elled to take some of your custoni- 
ers away as they arc wanted at the legal boarding 
house. 

Another robbery? 
Dixon : 

Yes, Jim. You know these fellows are n^^t 
of the stealinf?- kind. They first hit a fellow with 

— 14 — 



a black jack on the head, then they rob him. Such 
an incid'ent occurred just about a few msinutes ago^ 
and I was told that the robber, ran into your place- 
Jim: 

Into my place? 

(Howaird and Margarete now attempt to rtm 
out, when Dixon gets hold of them. 

Dixon : 

Yes, your the fellow I want. (He places 
handcuffs on Howard's hands and leads him off 
stage. Magarete following.) (Hoo - Sing comes 
out from under the table and walks to the d'oor^ 
looks out and closes it.) (The rest all seat them- 
selves.) (Jack and Kid seat themselves at the first 
table and play cards, whiLe Sarah, Hetty and Mar- 
low sit at the second table.) (Max at this stagfc 
walks to the bar and asks Jim.) 

Max : 

What's that young lady's name. (Points tO 
Marlow.) 

Jim : 

Her name is Marlow Simone. She came herc^ 
ihree ycais ago with that fellow Jack, (points ti> 
Jack) and have made this their re-id'ence eveF 
since. She lives on the third floor and besides she's 
the best customer that I ever could hope for. Why, 
.slic is tlie liveliest kid in the market to-day. 

Kid: (To Jim.) v;j 

Tv\o Martincys. ^s, 

(Jim attends to the orders, and Hoo - Sing- 
serves them.V (To the tune of a funeral march,, 

— 15 — 



Hoo-Siiig walks slowly to the table and places the ' 
glasses upon it, He runs back to the bar, shouting, 

Hoo-Sing : 

1 hey didn't blake bosey. 

Jim : (shouts.) 

Good. 

(Hoo-Sing at this stage sits down on the 
floor near the bar.) 

Max : (faintly utters.) " '• 

Marlow Simone? 

( Mario w rises from her seat . and walks to 
Max.) 

Margarete : • * ; 

Are you tarking about me? 

Jim : (to Marlow.) 

This chap wanted to know your name. 

Marlow: (to Max.) 

My name! Why haven t you got one al- 
ready and you want me also? , , ' 

(Hetty now joins them both at the h&t.) 
Hetty: (to Madow.) 

He didn't mean to insult you, or to hurt 
your feelings in anyway. . . • 

(Jim walks out.) 

Marlow: (to Max.) 

Oh ! is that all, well I am pleased to meet 
you. 

Jack: (to Hoo-Sing.) 
Beer please. 

— 16 — 



(Hoo - Sing remains on the iUnt^.^ 

Hoo - Sing: • i 

Allright bose. ^ < 

(jim comes in again.) 

Marlow: 

Say, Jim, have you any clianipaii;u IcU? 

Jack: (out loud to Jim.) 

Is my beer on it's way? 

Jim,: (to Jack.) 

Hasn't that gink served you yet? That 
Chinaman will drive nie to the beach some day. 

Jim: (to Marlow.) 

I am sorry Marlow, I haven't any left. 

Marlow : (to Jim.) 

Well I have a little left from yesterday, so 
I'll make use of it. (She takes a bottle from her 
bosom and asks Max.) 

"Do you want a drink? 

(Max remains motionless and doesn't aii" 
swer.) 

Marlow : (to Max.) 

No? I'll drink, (stic drinks.) 

Max Simone : 

Don't drink Marlow. 

Hetty : (to Marlow.) 
You'll get 'drunk. 

Marlow: (laughing out aloud.) , 

I've got other things to worry about. 

(Hoo - Sing, seeing her laugh, laughs a!^o. 
— 17 — 



Hoo - Sing : 

She laughy like a chicky. , 

(Max draws himself away from' IVfarlow.) 

Marlow: 

Hey, don't go away from me, do you smell 

the brandy ffom my mouth, (taking a cigarette frpm 

the bar she says ;) 

Oh, that couild easily be illuminated. Have 
you a match? 

.MaXiSimo.ne: 

f i Yes, I have. (He takes a match from a match 
box and lighting it, holds it between her and him- 
self.) (Marlow holding the cigarette in her mouth 
tries to light it, looking into Max's eyes.) (She then 
lets the cigarette fall from her mouth, shouting ;) 

Marlow; Brother Max, (falls into his open arms. 
(Hoo - Sing walks over to the game table, 
liits Jack on the back.) 

Hoo - Sing : 

Sey Jack, look. i 

(Jadk, being d'istur'bed, hits Hoo - Sing's head 
on the table.) (Hoo - Sing then tells Jim, who makes 
no attempt to take his part (Marlow now frees her- 
self from Max's caress and says :) 

Marlow : 

How are the parents? 

Max Simone : 

Father is dead. 

(Marlow lowers her head for a moment and 
then laughs out loud.) 



— 18 



Marlow ; 

I should wori y. : 

Hoo - Sing: (laughs.) 

Max SiiTLone : ■ 

Don't laugh sister, he was ouir father. 

Marlow : 

I should feel sorry far that beast, no Max. 1£ 
he only wouldl ihave passed away be:fore he had a 
chanoe to ruin so many of us, how muich better it 
would have been. If a strangeir would have driven 
me out of his house, because I wouldn't do as he 
wished me to do, I wouldn't blamie him ; but when 
my own father drove me away from a home of hap- 
piness just because I wouldnt marry the man he pre- 
fered, then he was nothing but a beast. I, who was 
the bell of society was driven to a life of shame, 
misery and corruption, to the liveliest kid of the 
Slums of New York. Didn't he know that this would 
be the result? Jack's parents became insane because 
their only child took to this life, and you want me 
to mourn for him. (She laughs out histerically) 
(Hoo - Sing interrupts, and says: 

Hoo - Sing : 

How nice. 

(Marlow continues with speech.) 

Marlow : 

But Max, how is mother? 

Max Simone : 
Dead. 

Marlow: 

Dead? 



19 



(She now turns to Sarah) 

Marlow : 

Do you remenil)cr your mother? 

Sarah: 

Yes -Marlow. 

Afarlow : (sighing) 

• ' If we only Hstened to our mother* not one of 
us would be here now. Do ,you realize what a mo* 
ther is girls? She is the only one who would' share 
her last cent with you, and if she is unable to do 
this, she will pray for you till the very end. If you 
are sick she'll always sit near you, no matter how 
contageous the desease may be. Thats a mother, 
and when you feel that your left without her you 
first begin to realize how valuable a treasure she 
was to you. Did she mention my name? 

Max Sim one : 

Yes, her liast uitterings were, Max, bring Mar- 
low home again ; so that I may press her to my heart 
before I pass away. Rut alas, her hopes were blas- 
ted by cruel death. 

Marlow : . 

, ;. ■ W^y are yo.u here? 

•fMax; Simtone : 

I. come here with the purpose of taking Hetty 
fronv GhinatQwn, so that we may marry and lead a 
respectable life. ; 

Marlow: ^ 

Bo you think that youd be able to accom- 
plish that feat? 

Hetty : (To Marlow) 

— 20 — 



Yes Marlow, he willv I' love your brotlien 
Oh, how relieved my mind is. Max, 1 promise to be 
your true wife. Of course I wasted some of my 
good years, and now that you came to take me a- 
vvay from this h*fc, which is a disgrace to humanity 
I a.'Ti sure that 111 derive all the good that God eave 
man and woman to be happy for. 

Hoo - Sing : 

She goee I>ack to China. 

Marlow : 

And I ? 
Max Sinione : 

You'll also come with me. 
Hetty : 

How happy we all will be. 

(Max takes Marlow by the arm and they seat 
themselves at the second table, where Sarah is now 
seated, while Hetty seats herself at the game table, 
next to Kid and watches the game.) 

Max Simone : 

Sister, I am now rich. Come out into the 
world again, and if by chance you have the good 
fortune to marry a man who'd provide a good' 
home for you, then I am sure that the blots that 
thus far stained your name will be wiped off; and 
the sun will shine brightly upon you, just as it 
shines upon this earth when it rises on the horizon 
on early morn ! 

(While this speech is going on, the lights slowly di- 
minish and when speech is fully concluded, dark- 
ness reigns. A small curtain rises in the back, snow- 

— 21 — 



ing a mother, father and their child in a hai)',)y 

moad.) 

Max: (To Marlow.) 

Have I convined yoii, is your mind concen- 
trated on what I said? Now is the time, choose be- 
ween life and death. 

(During this speech, the lights are ij:raduH!- 
ly growing brighter and when speech is concluded 
the back curtain falls and the stage is fully illum- 
inated. 

KidI: (to Hetty.) 

Are youi going toJeave us? 

(Hetty not answering leaves her seat.) (Mar- 
low, taking Max's hand says.) 
Yes brother, I'll go. 

(Hetty has now reached the second table.) 
(Jack now throws up his cards and rises to his 
feet.) (Dixon is now walking up and down the 
street talking to Howard and Margarete who are 
dressed differently than before.) (Max takes Mar- 
low and Hetty by the arm. and starts fojr the door.) 
(Jack excitedly draws a gun from his pocket and 
says.) 

Jack: (to M ar 1 o w . ) 

Are you going to leave mc now? 

Hetty : (to Jack.) 

Why. do you mind? 

Hoo-Sing: (to Jack.) 

She goee back to myee contree. 

Jack : (to Marlow.) 

Well youT not going out of here. :ilive. T 
beat many a fellow who tried to take you from me. 

•)'> 



and he isn't going to take you either. 

(Max, Hetty and Marlow advance to the 
door, when Jack suddenly shoots at Marlow, say- 
ing-) 
Jack : f 

Take that. 

(Marlow falls to the floor.) (Hoo-Sing runs 
to the door, crying.) 

Police, Police ! 

(Dixon and the rest, comie running down the 
street.) (Dixon entering, gets hold of Jack who is 
still holding the gun in his hand, dazed.) (Every- 
body on the stage close up around Marlow.) (Hoo- 
Sing runs to the bar, gets a bottle and running to 
where Marlow lies says:) 

Marlow, here is some Champaign. Hey 
Dixon, she sleeps. She wantee Cockee tails. 

(Jim pulls Hoo-Sing away.) (Dixon is in the 
meantime handcuffing Jack.) (Max now kneels 
beside his sister and feels her pulse.) 

Jack : t 

She's dead all right. I took good aim when 
I pulledi that trigger. 

(Dixon now leads Jack to the street, Marga- 
rete, Hetty. Sarah and Kid following.) (Jack looks 
back to the room, saying:) 

T am sorry Marlow. 

(Dixon, grasping him firmly by the arm 
says :) 

That's the end of all underworld abituays. 
Curtain falls. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



FEB 3 19i: 




014 212 052 5 ♦ 



